joy – Simply True

Dead to sin, alive to God (Romans 6:1-14)

This article is a rewrite of an earlier article in my Romans series. I’m sending it out again to clarify one or two points made earlier. But it’s also important to have in mind with regard to the present series on joy—as I think you will see. So, happy reading!

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When Paul writes his letter to Christians in Rome, he’s eager to demonstrate the power of God’s kindness, a kindness that dwarfs the whole sorry business of our trying to take over from him.

And now, in the light of this abundant grace, Paul wants to show us how to live in a way that brings glory to God.

In fact, Paul begins by responding to some who doubt, or scorn, the good news he has announced—people who can’t believe, or don’t want to rely on God’s amazing grace. And he does so by answering two questions (vv. 1 and 15).

Here’s his first question. ‘Shall we just let loose and do as we please, so that God’s grace can shine out all the more?’ It’s a question calculated to throw scorn on the freedom of God’s grace.

‘This could never be’ says Paul. God could not want that! He responds with what God does want—two purpose statements. It’s so that we can live a new life (v.4), and so that our bodily sins can be disabled (v. 6).

God has set us up to really live differently! The gospel is not an escape route from being what we are created to be. It goes on being powerful in framing and empowering a change of life. So, we need to look again at what God has achieved in his gospel.

First, everything here depends on what has happened to Jesus.

Far from merely looking at Christ as a spectacle, or perhaps appreciating him as a benefactor, we have been included in his dying and rising, and in what those events have accomplished. When we believe in Christ, usually expressed in baptism, we’re accepting that our new life doesn’t start with us. It starts with what happens to him—and happens to us who, by faith, are in him.

And Paul tells us this because Christ’s death and resurrection is not only the way we are saved from our sins, but it’s the way in which our whole life can be recalibrated. Jesus doesn’t just die for our sins. He dies to sin (v. 10). We need to know what this means.

Obviously, Jesus doesn’t die to sinning because he never sinned. But when he dies, he so fully exhausts what sin and condemnation and death can do to sinners, that he’s died to anything more it can do to him. He’s died to the dominion of sin. Sin used to reign, but now, grace does.[i]

Think about this a little more. Jesus says before his death, and concerning those who come to arrest him, ‘… this is your hour, and the power of darkness’.[ii] Jesus knows that Satan will now do all he can to destroy him and his mission. But he also says, ‘…the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me.’[iii] What is going to happen to Jesus will look like the triumph of Satan and his evil intent. In fact, it is going to be Christ’s victory.

We need to know this because Jesus is taking us with him through all that happens here.

Satan gains power over us by accusing and condemning. He can get us in a corner! But now, God has reckoned his Son to be the guilty one. Jesus has endured all that sin entails—its pollution and shame as well as its penalty. He has especially endured alienation from his Father—the worst of all.[iv] And he exhausts all that it can do to him—and to us. So, when he says ‘It is finished’[v], all of this is included in what is finished. He’s ‘died to sin’. It can do no more to him. And he commends himself to the Father.

This is important for us because we’ve been united with Christ in ‘a death like his’ (v. 5). Sin can’t do anything more to him. So, it follows that it can’t do anything more to us either!

But how can this be? Sin—as we see what it offers, and feel its tug, still seems to have plenty of influence on us.

It certainly doesn’t mean we have no temptations, no inner tendencies to do wrong, no failures. But God’s purpose is to disable our propensity to sinning (v. 6). Paul calls it ‘our body of sin…being brought to nothing’. We’ve been joined to Christ’s crucifixion specifically to bring this slavery to an end[vi].

This almost seems to be too ambitious! But Paul explains how this happens. Someone who’s died is ‘set free from sin’ (v. 7) But the word translated ‘free’ is actually the word ‘justified’.[vii] God is calling us righteous because we are trusting the Son who has fulfilled all God’s righteousness.

So, the freedom we have is freedom from sin’s pollution—we are clean in God’s eyes, we have freedom from guilt—God himself finds nothing to accuse, and freedom from penalty—we look forward to eternal life. And, as we have seen, we have access to grace. We can look to God and seek his favour. We can bear to be looked on by him! We will never be forsaken!

It helps if we think about the opposite of this. Consider the effect that personal failures have on our will to please God. Satan accuses us continually. He knows the effectiveness of guilt to keep us from doing good. Think of the sapping of energy when our conscience tells us we are compromised and contaminated. What can we do to lift our game?

But then, because Christ has hung on his cross where we compromised and soiled sinners should have been, and because he’s been raised from the dead, God rightly calls us righteous.

Someone who has been cleansed like this wants to stay that way and please his or her wonderful Benefactor. We don’t work towards getting a clear conscience. We start with one. And while we look to Christ and not to ourselves, we remain with one.[viii]

And so, with King David, we may have felt God’s heavy hand on us as sinners,[ix] and longed to know the joy of his salvation. And God satisfies this longing. He forgives our sin, and upholds us with a willing spirit.[x] Or, like Isaiah when God cleansed him, we can say, ‘Here am I Lord. Send me!’[xi] Or, like the forgiven Peter, we can say, ‘You know that I love you’.[xii]

Paul also tells us that we are united with Christ in his resurrection (v. 4). Jesus now has a human life that is renewed—after bearing our sins. He is alive to God, his Father.[xiii]

Of course, he has always lived to God—eternally, but we couldn’t share in that. But he’s entered our world. He’s been where we were before God—forsaken. And he has been raised up to live with God. Death has lost its power over him.

And we’ve been raised up too. We can act and choose and think in the Father’s presence, as Jesus does now. We’ve been equipped to live as the righteous people he created us to be!

And we can be sure that if we are included in what he has done by dying for us, we will most certainly share in being physically raised from the dead as he was (v. 5).

So much for death being in charge of history! Sin, and condemnation, and the threat of death crippled our living (as Paul has shown in his previous section[xiv]). But not now! We’re ready to live.

Paul doesn’t want us to waste these privileges, and gives us three things to do. They belong together and they help us live in the blessing we’ve just considered. Here they are.

First, we must reckon our life the way God is reckoning it. We must breathe this new air deeply. We should notice what is controlling our thinking. We should give up our preoccupation with ourselves, or living by our own piety, and start with ourselves where God has placed us—in Christ.

Second, we must say no—over and over again— to temptations we used to give way to. Problems don’t go away by meditating, or just knowing things. Sometimes we just have to say ‘No!’ We should tell sin that it’s not in charge. There’s no negotiation here. No hesitation. We might be surprised how powerful our ‘No’ is! It’s backed by all that Christ has won for us.

And third, we must say ‘Yes’ to God and his will—over and over again—to exercise the new freedom we’ve received. We’re not meant to be overfed consumers. This new life is built for action. We used to be the living dead! But we’re alive to God now.

And just in case we’ve forgotten, Paul reminds us that law is no longer in charge—to either condemn us or to congratulate us! But grace is in charge. And this reign of grace enables us to live to God. And our humble beginnings are a delight to our heavenly Father.

A sceptics question has yielded a rich feast! Next time, we’ll look at a second objection people have raised about the reign of God’s grace. And we’ll learn how to live as God’s joyful slaves.

[i] This has been spelled out back in Rom. 5:21

[ii] Luke 22:53

[iii] John 14:30

[iv] Mark 15:34

[v] John 19:30

[vi] Jesus has said that whoever sins becomes a slave of his sin (John 8:34). Peter also tells us that Jesus ‘bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might dies to sin and live to righteousness’ (1 Pet. 2:24).

[vii] Every other time Paul uses this word, this is what he means.

[viii] Heb. 9:14

[ix] Psa. 32:4

[x] Psa. 51:12

[xi] Isa. 6:7-8

[xii] John 21:17

[xiii] We refer here to his human nature rather his eternal relationship to the Father.

[xiv] Rom. 5:17, 21

The Joy of the Lord

Seeking pleasure is a major occupation for the human race. And this is understandable. We’ve been wired for joy by our Creator. Of course, we’d all like joy to be simple—like getting out of bed and thinking how wonderful the day will be. But life is more complicated than that.

Trying to squeeze some joy out of circumstances is frustrating, and eventually, futile. But God has sent his Son among us announcing ‘good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.’ So, it’s important to hear what he has to say to us.

Strangely, it’s in the few hours before his arrest, and his death, that our Lord has a lot to say about joy[i]—even though his own life is being threatened, and the disciples can see their world crumbling. He explains the joy that is sustaining him.[ii] He also promises to give this joy to us.[iii]

Together with these disciples, we need to hear our Lord and enter into what he promises. He gives us four good reasons, and encouragements, to be joyful. It’s important to be looking in the right place.

Four points is a bit long for a blog. But perhaps you can last the distance, or save a couple of them for later!

First, we should enjoy Jesus being where he is—sitting, gloriously, with his Father (14:27-28).

This may sound a strange place to begin, but it’s where Jesus starts when he wants to explain the joy he is going to give us. Jesus is going to the Father in heaven. And he says that if they loved him, they’d be glad.

From the point of view of the disciples, Jesus, going away isn’t an occasion for joy. They’ve been dependent on him for three years. I can imagine their dismay. Haven’t they loved him? And shouldn’t they want him to remain among them?

But Jesus has been talking a lot about going to the Father in these precious hours. And he’s going to prepare a place for them as well—in his Father’s home. And shortly, he will ask the Father to restore him to the glory he left behind. It’s what he wants. And he wants us to see him in this glory.

We are destined to see the Father’s love for his Son—gloriously displayed.[iv] We’ll be watching the ‘heart throb’ of the whole creation, because everything has been made by the Father and for his Son.

Well, if this is the Son’s future, shouldn’t we be glad for him? And then, if we’re invited to share in this revelation of love and glory, shouldn’t we be glad for ourselves?

We all need to lift our eyes to higher levels—to what is invisible. We need to rely on what we can’t manage—a kingdom that’s ruled by Jesus, sitting in the Father’s presence.

You will probably remember the disciples coming back from a mission trip and being impressed that evil spirits were subject to them. Jesus was deeply moved by their success. The reign of evil was being confronted. But he told them their joy needed to be elsewhere. ‘…rejoice that your names are written in heaven’.[v] We all need to lift our eyes to where Jesus is pointing if we want to know the joy he is talking about.

Second, we need to enjoy sharing in the flow of Christ’s love (John 15:9-12).[vi]

Children understand love by seeing their mum and dad love each other. It’s not so much taught as caught. And this is the environment for them to learn to love other people.

This may help us understand that Jesus is calling us to live in his loving. He, of course, is living in his Father’s love. This shapes all he is and does. We may feel unable to rise to this way of living, but Jesus shows that as we trust him and obey him, the joy he has in being loved by the Father is shared by us. This is how our joy will rise up and be ‘full’.

Love is the environment in which joy flourishes. We can probably recognise that this is where our own real and lasting joys have come from.

But loving is not simple. It’s being wholly focussed on the welfare of another. It’s going against the tide of our tendency to be self-focussed. But it is what God is, it is the way Jesus lived among us, and it is what we are being shaped for.

The disciples have been receiving this love of the Father reflected in his Son. And now, Jesus tells us to make ourselves at home inside his loving—to ‘abide in his love’.

This is not merely a doctrine we are supposed to believe. And it’s not an experience we may sometimes feel. It’s a settled reality in which we can live—by faith.

We’ll look at what Paul has to say about joy later on, but notice how he sums up what his life is about. ‘The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.’[vii]

And now, this love needs to flow. Jesus commands us to love one-another. He wants us to enjoy the flow of love that begins in heaven, pours out in his own flesh, embraces us, and then emboldens us to love.

In this way, Jesus has opened up to us the secret of his joy. And this is the joy he is giving to us now. It’s flowing to us, and through us, and out into the world.

Third, let’s enjoy Christ’s victory (16:20-22; 20:20)

Perhaps this is the easiest joy to understand. As Jesus speaks to the disciples in these hours, he is going away, but will return. And then, they will be joyful! He’s talking about his resurrection. And when Jesus does stand before the eleven again, they do experience an amazing joy. And Jesus says that no-one will be able to take their joy from them.

This is the way it is for all of us who trust in Jesus Christ. We don’t just have a Jesus who is alive. We have a Lord who is greater than death, greater than our sins and the outcomes these lead to, greater than the world, and the devil who leads it. And this Lord Jesus is present with us.

It’s a win-win-win situation. Peter sums it up beautifully for us in his letter: ‘We’ve been born again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.’ He’s telling us about his own conversion—and about ours.

We need to think often of this victory Jesus has gained over the enemies of our joy. We need to read the promises he’s made. We need to savour the joy he has had in doing this for us.

Life can be miserable! But, as David says, ‘There is a stream which makes glad the city of God!’

Fourth, enjoy the Father, and seek things from him—in Jesus’ name (16:23-27).

The disciples have been asking Jesus lots of questions.[viii] What will they do when he’s not around? Confusion and joy don’t usually belong together!

Jesus says ‘in that day’—the day of fulfilment, when the Holy Spirit has come, they won’t be asking questions as they are now. The Spirit will be with them, in them, revealing Christ to them. Jesus himself will be with them—in this new way.

Of course, there will still be questions. But they’ll know who they are and where they stand! They will know that—through Jesus—they are welcome in the Father’s presence.

Sometimes, it’s not answers that we need. It’s fellowship with God. When this gift is given, some of our questions drop away. We are in his presence.

And Jesus also says that they, and we, will be free to approach the Father in Jesus’ name and ask for what we want. Jesus specifically says he won’t do this praying. Of course, he will intercede for us, but not get in the road of our praying. He wants us to have that joy—with him! It’s as though he takes us by the hand and leads us directly to his Father—as our Father in heaven. This is our new home.

So, ‘Ask and receive, that your joy may be full.’ The Father is predisposed to hearing and granting what we ask. After all, we are asking in Jesus name. We’ve learned what to ask for by heeding his word. This is the fourth time he’s spoken about this in these precious hours.[ix] Having the Maker and Redeemer of the world as our listening Father brings great joy.

This is the way our lives become fruitful—that is useful in the lives of others. And this, Jesus says, is also a source of joy. We’re not helpless. We have agency. We can always do something. We can pray.

Let me encourage us all to walk in the joy of the Lord Jesus! He’s disclosed to us the preciousness of his own relationship with the Father. Better than that, he’s sharing it with us. Our Lord Jesus wants us to enjoy where he is, participate in the outflow of his divine love, live in the light of his victory, and have lives full of meaning.

[i] John 14—17

[ii] Heb. 12:2

[iii] John 15:11; 17:13

[iv] John 17:24

[v] Luke 10:20

[vi] John 15:9-17

[vii] Gal. 2:20

[viii] There’s been 7 questions in the narrative section (chapters 13-16) leading up to this point.

[ix] John 14:13; 15:7, 16; and here.

Christ is born. Good news for everyone

I don’t’ need to tell you that’s it’s Christmas time. That news is everywhere. But the world can’t tell you why it’s a time for joy—or even being happy or merry. Even at the first Christmas, no-one could have told you it was a time to be happy, unless there were some angels around to help.

All of us need some help to move beyond trying to keep ourselves happy and find the joy that God is waiting to give us.

Christians don’t need to do things to make them happy. Whole industries are devoted to that. Of course, we all hope for happiness—for ourselves and others, but this is very dependent on circumstances. And it can often be shallow—a cosmetic on the face of sadness. Sometimes, it relies on blocking out the unpleasant parts of life.

But joy is different. It’s an important part of life. It’s not just for the ‘fun bits’. It’s the motive we need to relate warmly, and the enthusiasm we need to get things done. It’s the exuberance we need to live well—an inner confidence, and hope for a future that’s sure. Everyone has this need, but especially those who believe in God and his Son.

Because Christians start with the wonderful gift of Christ to our world, they start with joy, continue with joy—sometimes through pain, and they end with joy. It’s a quality made in heaven, and delivered.

Joy starts with God. Just think about what we know about him for a moment. He knows his creation is good. He loves what he’s made. He’s planned every detail of what he will do to fix our mess. And everything is happening in the time frame he has in mind.

His joy isn’t ignoring our pain. He understands sadness better than any of us. He’s acquainted with everything that’s happening, and grieves over it. He knows how hard it is to change things. And he doesn’t rely on phony fixes. But he knows what he will do to restore joy for us.

This is because everything God does for us focusses on one great event—the coming of his Son into our world—his anointed King. Our joy is dependent on him. Totally!

Luke tells us about three occasions of joy when Jesus comes into our world—for Zechariah, for Mary, and for a group of shepherds.

In each case, an angel is sent to get things moving. In each case, there’s a problem to solve. And, in each case, the joy is offered to everyone. Here’s what we can learn from them.

Zechariah and his wife are old but an angel comes to him and announces that he and his wife will have a son. We’ll get to know him later as John the Baptist. And the angel says, ‘You will have joy and gladness. And many will rejoice at his birth.’[i]

Well, John is not so sure. He and his wife are past having children. And here’s the problem. He may be righteous. He’s performing his once in a lifetime task—burning incense and praying for Israel in the temple’s holy place. But still, he’s living by what’s possible, not by God’s word of promise.

The Old Testament has closed with a guarantee that righteousness will again rise like the sun and shine on his people. And a new Elijah will prepare his people for this day. And Zechariah’s son will be this new Elijah. But Zechariah is focused on problems, not God’s promise!

Being a good man isn’t enough! Anything that’s ‘us’ isn’t enough. God wants us to be expecting something from him. That’s where joy comes from, and how it’s sustained.

Well, God gives him a nine-month course on joy! And while the impossible happens, he’s got time to think.

So, John the Baptist is born, Zechariah regains his voice, and he tells us what joy is and where it comes from. I’ll leave you to read his exuberant praise. Sufficient to say, it all depends on God sending us his Son. God has not given up on his creation, or forgotten his promises to Israel. That’s why there’s always a reason for joy.

And then, an angel is sent to Mary. She is also told about a birth. Her son will be Israel’s Messiah. It’s hard to comprehend the explosion that must go on in her mind. She’s young. She’s betrothed to Joseph. But she also knows the hope of Israel, that God’s king will come to save his people.

Her question is not ‘can this happen?’ but ‘how will this happen’. She’s devout and circumspect, betrothed to Joseph but not married. She asks a good question. The angel, delicately, tells her that the Holy Spirit will ‘overshadow’ her. The Father will be God—no less.

She’s heard enough, and says, ‘Let it be so to me according to your word.’ Possibility is not the question. She’s focused on God’s word, not her worries.

How she feels about this is revealed later. But we know that she visits her auntie Elizabeth who is already pregnant with John. It will be three months before he is born, but Elizabeth says the baby leaps in her womb for joy. As we find out later, John the Baptist is filled with the Spirit from his birth. It’s as though he can’t wait to introduce the Messiah to Israel!

And Elizabeth has learned what is important in this life. She says to Mary, ‘Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.’[ii]

But now, when Jesus is born, Mary tells us what’s in her heart. Let her tell us what’s important in life.[iii]

‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.’ And, ‘…he who is mighty has done great things for me’. She’s insignificant and unworthy but receives mercy—mercy that will come to many. There’s the abiding reason for joy for all of us!

Once again, an angel is sent. This time, to shepherds.

Jesus has been born. The Son of God is in our world. But God can’t rely on us responding appropriately! It’s going to take time to get us to believe this, and for him to get his joy into our minds and hearts.

So, God sends his angel to some shepherds. They’re overwhelmed, and scared. But these shepherds need to get used to God being in charge of what we think is our space! The angel’s message is one ‘of great joy which will be for all the people.’

But notice the wording. ‘I bring you good news.’ ‘To you is born…a Saviour.’ And ‘This will be the sign for you.’ The shepherds aren’t listening to a news item. This is not of general interest. This joy comes to us because God is speaking to us. It’s for ‘all the people’. I am being addressed too!

And now, the shepherds are given something to do. They need to see the connection between the unseen world of God speaking by this angel, and the working out of this in life. They will find this baby in David’s city—Bethlehem, in a feed trough.

Then, God sends a whole choir of angels to show us all how to respond to this great gift. Give glory to God! All of it. And receive the peace! All of it. God is generous in love and ready to act.

Looking for one born to be King in a feed trough is unusual. And, of course, only shepherds would know how to scout around Bethlehem among the sheep shelters and ask their mates if they’ve heard of a baby being born.

But notice what they say. ‘Let’s go, and see!’ And they hurry. And they discover that all they’ve been told is true! And their message goes viral. The unseen world of angels has broken into the world they know.

The coming of joy is no different for us. God has revealed himself in our messy and monotonous world. And he calls us to come and see these things that he has done among us. And to believe the things he will do among us. And to rejoice.

I’d like to follow this up by writing about two other ways in which Jesus comes to us—to bring us joy.

[i] Luke 1:14

[ii] Luke 1:45

[iii] Luke 1:46-55